13 athletes from Volusia County colleges worth watching in 2013

Embry-Riddle's Nicole Bonk is a favorite to repeat her NAIA titles this year and then begin a quest to bring an Olympic race-walk medal back to the U.S. one day.

News-Journal / Nigel Cook

BRENT WORONOFFSTAFF REPORT

Published: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 1:37 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 12:06 p.m.

In 2013, new stars will emerge at Volusia County's four colleges and universities, while others will complete their outstanding careers.

There are many established and up-and-coming local college athletes worth keeping an eye on this year, some of which we will be hearing about long after they graduate.

Here are 13 student-athletes we expect to make an impact in 2013.

Abigail Asoro

Daytona State women's basketball

The Falcons' Swedish import is averaging 22.3 points and 9.9 rebounds after 15 games. Just a freshman, the 5-foot-11 forward still has another season at DSC before she will likely move on to an NCAA Division I school.

Patrick Besch

Embry-Riddle men's tennis

The junior from Mainz, Germany, won the NAIA singles title at the USTA/ITA national small-school championships this past fall and is the nation's top-ranked singles player entering the spring season, but he still may not win the No. 1 spot on his own team. Chris Freeman, the 2011 NAIA singles champ, is the Eagles' returning No. 1 singles player. Besch beat Freeman in the regional title match to advance to nationals and then went on to win the singles title to go with the NAIA doubles championship he won in 2011.

Nicole Bonk

Embry-Riddle track

Race-walking is like a fine wine. You can't rush it. But Bonk, a middle-distance runner before she took up the peculiar event in 2010, is all about speed. With less than a year of training under her belt she won the 3,000-meter indoor title and then claimed the 5,000-meter outdoor title at the NAIA championships last year. She also qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials in just her second-ever 20,000-meter event. Five days after the trials she earned a bronze medal in her first international event at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Guanajuato, Mexico. The senior is a favorite to repeat her NAIA titles this year and then begin a quest to bring an Olympic race-walk medal back to the U.S. one day.

Michelle Banuelos-Smith

Bethune-Cookman softball

B-CU's leading hitter in 2012 is back for her senior season as the Wildcats will try to win their fourth consecutive MEAC championship. Benuelos-Smith led the conference last season in RBIs (37), doubles (19) and total bases (107). The all-conference first-team outfielder was third in the MEAC in home runs (eight), second in hits (64) and 12th in batting average (.350). She was ranked 19th in the nation in doubles per game.

DeForest Carter

Embry-Riddle basketball

Carter's style of play defies description. He does a lot of everything. The 6-foot-1 burly sophomore is not a point guard, but he prefers to have the ball in his hands. He leads ERAU in assists (6.7 per game), is second in scoring (13.5) and had more defensive rebounds entering Thursday night's game (61) than 6-8 center Cesar Pastrana (60). Carter also leads the fourth-ranked Eagles in blocked shots (23) and steals (3.26 per game).

Adrien Coleman

Bethune-Cookman men's basketball

Opponents know what Coleman is going to do -- get to the basket, whether through traffic or in transition -- and they still can't stop him. The 6-foot-5 junior leads the MEAC in scoring at 18.1 points per game and ranks in the top 10 in at least eight other categories, including rebounding (third at 7.5) and assists (seventh at 3.5). He would easily average 20 points a game if he were a better free throw shooter. Because of his aggressive, slashing style, he gets to the line frequently -- attempting 98 free throws so far this season, more than twice as many as any other Wildcat -- but he's shooting just 53 percent from the line.

Kadian Dunkley

Bethune-Cookman track

The senior distance runner still has two more seasons -- 2013 indoor and outdoor track -- in which to add to her vast trophy collection. Dunkley won the MEAC cross country title in 2011 (she was second this past season), she won the 5,000 meters at the 2012 MEAC indoor championships (breaking the meet record by 24.4 seconds) and she won both the 5,000 meters and the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2012 MEAC outdoor championships.

Victoria McGowan

Stetson women's basketball

The senior's stellar career is winding down. It seems like she's accomplished everything as a Hatter -- Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, ESPN's top play (a 55-foot buzzer beater to beat Belmont in the 2011 A-Sun semifinals) and an NCAA tournament appearance. But the 5-foot-4 senior is still breaking new ground. She scored a career-high 33 points Wednesday to propel the Hatters (9-4, 2-0) to a 57-52 comeback victory at Kennesaw State. McGowan, who leads Stetson in scoring (18.4 ppg), rebounding (6.9) and assists (4.25), would like to lead the Hats to one more NCAA tourney before she graduates.

Kevin Maloney

Embry-Riddle baseball

The left-handed pitcher has never lost a game for the Eagles. In two seasons at ERAU, he is 19-0 with a 2.62 ERA. Last year, Maloney went 9-0 with a 1.68 ERA. He enters his senior season as one of 17 NAIA preseason All-Americans.

Kaley Melville

Stetson volleyball

Melville is a standout in both indoor volleyball and sand volleyball. The junior outside hitter led Stetson's indoor team in kills in each of her first three seasons and ranks 10th on the Hatters' career kills list with 865. In her first year playing sand volleyball competitively, Melville finished tied for second among the Hatters with 16 victories last spring. She collected 14 of the wins partnering with sand volleyball specialist Julie Bassett.

Kurt Schluter

Stetson baseball

If not for an injury-riddled junior year, the right-hander would probably be the property of a major-league organization right now and preparing for his first spring training. Instead, he's back for his senior year, and he will try to return to his sophomore form of 2011 when he went 8-0 with a 1.40 ERA despite missing the final six weeks of the season.

Andreas Schnabl

Stetson men's soccer

The goalkeeper from Blaichach, Germany, will enter his senior season next fall as the Hatters' career shutout leader with 12. He broke the old mark of 11 that had stood since 1986. Schnabl had 51 saves and a 1.40 goals against average with two shutouts this past season after registering five clean sheets in each of his first two seasons.

Quentin Williams

Bethune-Cookman football

B-CU's Q-rating will likely shoot up the charts next season as the former Florida “Mr. Football'' enters spring practice as the uncontested starting quarterback. In his first season of action this past fall, Williams passed for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions in 10 games. He also ran for 445 yards and three scores. With “Q'' at the helm, the Wildcats' quarterback position appears to be in good hands.

<p>In 2013, new stars will emerge at Volusia County's four colleges and universities, while others will complete their outstanding careers.<ep></p><p> There are many established and up-and-coming local college athletes worth keeping an eye on this year, some of which we will be hearing about long after they graduate.<ep></p><p> Here are 13 student-athletes we expect to make an impact in 2013.<ep> </p><p><b>Abigail Asoro<ep></p><p>Daytona State women's basketball</b><ep></p><p> The Falcons' Swedish import is averaging 22.3 points and 9.9 rebounds after 15 games. Just a freshman, the 5-foot-11 forward still has another season at DSC before she will likely move on to an NCAA Division I school.<ep> </p><p><b>Patrick Besch<ep></p><p>Embry-Riddle men's tennis</b><ep></p><p> The junior from Mainz, Germany, won the NAIA singles title at the USTA/ITA national small-school championships this past fall and is the nation's top-ranked singles player entering the spring season, but he still may not win the No. 1 spot on his own team. Chris Freeman, the 2011 NAIA singles champ, is the Eagles' returning No. 1 singles player. Besch beat Freeman in the regional title match to advance to nationals and then went on to win the singles title to go with the NAIA doubles championship he won in 2011.<ep></p><p><b>Nicole Bonk<ep></p><p>Embry-Riddle track</b><ep></p><p> Race-walking is like a fine wine. You can't rush it. But Bonk, a middle-distance runner before she took up the peculiar event in 2010, is all about speed. With less than a year of training under her belt she won the 3,000-meter indoor title and then claimed the 5,000-meter outdoor title at the NAIA championships last year. She also qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials in just her second-ever 20,000-meter event. Five days after the trials she earned a bronze medal in her first international event at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Guanajuato, Mexico. The senior is a favorite to repeat her NAIA titles this year and then begin a quest to bring an Olympic race-walk medal back to the U.S. one day.<ep></p><p><b>Michelle Banuelos-Smith<ep></p><p>Bethune-Cookman softball</b><ep></p><p> B-CU's leading hitter in 2012 is back for her senior season as the Wildcats will try to win their fourth consecutive MEAC championship. Benuelos-Smith led the conference last season in RBIs (37), doubles (19) and total bases (107). The all-conference first-team outfielder was third in the MEAC in home runs (eight), second in hits (64) and 12th in batting average (.350). She was ranked 19th in the nation in doubles per game.<ep></p><p><b>DeForest Carter<ep></p><p>Embry-Riddle basketball</b><ep></p><p> Carter's style of play defies description. He does a lot of everything. The 6-foot-1 burly sophomore is not a point guard, but he prefers to have the ball in his hands. He leads ERAU in assists (6.7 per game), is second in scoring (13.5) and had more defensive rebounds entering Thursday night's game (61) than 6-8 center Cesar Pastrana (60). Carter also leads the fourth-ranked Eagles in blocked shots (23) and steals (3.26 per game).<ep></p><p><b>Adrien Coleman<ep></p><p>Bethune-Cookman men's basketball</b><ep></p><p> Opponents know what Coleman is going to do -- get to the basket, whether through traffic or in transition -- and they still can't stop him. The 6-foot-5 junior leads the MEAC in scoring at 18.1 points per game and ranks in the top 10 in at least eight other categories, including rebounding (third at 7.5) and assists (seventh at 3.5). He would easily average 20 points a game if he were a better free throw shooter. Because of his aggressive, slashing style, he gets to the line frequently -- attempting 98 free throws so far this season, more than twice as many as any other Wildcat -- but he's shooting just 53 percent from the line.<ep></p><p><b>Kadian Dunkley<ep></p><p>Bethune-Cookman track</b><ep></p><p> The senior distance runner still has two more seasons -- 2013 indoor and outdoor track -- in which to add to her vast trophy collection. Dunkley won the MEAC cross country title in 2011 (she was second this past season), she won the 5,000 meters at the 2012 MEAC indoor championships (breaking the meet record by 24.4 seconds) and she won both the 5,000 meters and the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2012 MEAC outdoor championships.<ep></p><p><b>Victoria McGowan<ep></p><p>Stetson women's basketball</b><ep></p><p> The senior's stellar career is winding down. It seems like she's accomplished everything as a Hatter -- Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, ESPN's top play (a 55-foot buzzer beater to beat Belmont in the 2011 A-Sun semifinals) and an NCAA tournament appearance. But the 5-foot-4 senior is still breaking new ground. She scored a career-high 33 points Wednesday to propel the Hatters (9-4, 2-0) to a 57-52 comeback victory at Kennesaw State. McGowan, who leads Stetson in scoring (18.4 ppg), rebounding (6.9) and assists (4.25), would like to lead the Hats to one more NCAA tourney before she graduates.<ep> </p><p><b>Kevin Maloney<ep></p><p>Embry-Riddle baseball</b><ep></p><p> The left-handed pitcher has never lost a game for the Eagles. In two seasons at ERAU, he is 19-0 with a 2.62 ERA. Last year, Maloney went 9-0 with a 1.68 ERA. He enters his senior season as one of 17 NAIA preseason All-Americans.<ep></p><p> </p><p><b>Kaley Melville<ep></p><p>Stetson volleyball</b><ep></p><p> Melville is a standout in both indoor volleyball and sand volleyball. The junior outside hitter led Stetson's indoor team in kills in each of her first three seasons and ranks 10th on the Hatters' career kills list with 865. In her first year playing sand volleyball competitively, Melville finished tied for second among the Hatters with 16 victories last spring. She collected 14 of the wins partnering with sand volleyball specialist Julie Bassett.<ep></p><p><b>Kurt Schluter<ep></p><p>Stetson baseball</b><ep></p><p> If not for an injury-riddled junior year, the right-hander would probably be the property of a major-league organization right now and preparing for his first spring training. Instead, he's back for his senior year, and he will try to return to his sophomore form of 2011 when he went 8-0 with a 1.40 ERA despite missing the final six weeks of the season.<ep> </p><p><b>Andreas Schnabl<ep></p><p>Stetson men's soccer</b><ep></p><p> The goalkeeper from Blaichach, Germany, will enter his senior season next fall as the Hatters' career shutout leader with 12. He broke the old mark of 11 that had stood since 1986. Schnabl had 51 saves and a 1.40 goals against average with two shutouts this past season after registering five clean sheets in each of his first two seasons.<ep></p><p><b>Quentin Williams<ep></p><p>Bethune-Cookman football</b><ep></p><p> B-CU's Q-rating will likely shoot up the charts next season as the former Florida “Mr. Football'' enters spring practice as the uncontested starting quarterback. In his first season of action this past fall, Williams passed for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions in 10 games. He also ran for 445 yards and three scores. With “Q'' at the helm, the Wildcats' quarterback position appears to be in good hands.<ep></p>